Chubbuck City Council considers pay increase

Chubbuck City Council is considering raising pay for elected officials, including City Council members and Chubbuck’s mayor.

Mayor Kevin England said he and other elected officials haven’t had a pay increase since 2006, while pay for non-elected city employees is adjusted every year.

“It’s time to adjust that pay so that as people come to our community and have a desire to be involved in the elected officials’ capacity that we are justly compensating those who serve,” said England.

Pay for elected officials can only be adjusted by city ordinance and only during an election year, making 2016 the next opportunity for one.

“It’ll be a full decade from the time that it was set until it’s adjusted at all,” said England.

England said his pay could be increased anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. Meanwhile, council members, who work part-time, would see smaller increases.

“It’ll probably be a fairly decent pay raise at this point in time because of the fact that it’s been a full decade,” said England.

It’s an issue England hopes the council can revisit each election year. But for now, the matter has been tabled until City Council can hear from the public.

“We want to make sure that we do the right thing and the fair thing that the public is behind and that’s the reason we’re asking for some public comment,” said England.

Members of the public are invited to weigh in on the issue at a special City Council session next Wednesday at 3 p.m. as well as at the regularly-scheduled City Council meeting Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.

Both meetings will take place at Chubbuck City Hall.